# Race, class and privilege

**How do we talk to our child about race, class and privilege?**

Whether and how you talk with your child about race, money and unequal opportunity: not raising it, answering when asked, or proactive age-appropriate conversations.

In short: Parents choose between 4 main approaches: Do not raise it; Answer when asked; Proactive, age-banded conversations; Activist engagement. Evidence: evidence leans one way. Research or guidance points in a direction, but it's thin, small or correlational. Best settled: preschool.

- Area: Values, character and family culture
- Evidence: Evidence leans one way
- Best settled: Preschool
- First published: 2026-10-03
- Last updated: 2026-10-05
- Page: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/topics/values-character-and-family-culture--race-class-and-privilege

## Race, class and privilege: what are the options?

1. **Do not raise it**: You do not bring these subjects up.
2. **Answer when asked**: You answer the child's questions when they come.
3. **Proactive, age-banded conversations**: You start conversations suited to each age.
4. **Activist engagement**: You take the child to events and involve them in causes.

## Race, class and privilege: what does the evidence say?

**Evidence leans one way.** Research or guidance points in a direction, but it's thin, small or correlational. (Leans (guidance))

AAP: infants notice race-based differences by 6 months; it recommends open talk, not silence

Sources:

- [HealthyChildren.org](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/emotional-wellness/Building-Resilience/Pages/Talking-to-Children-About-Racial-Bias.aspx)

## What else is worth knowing?

Children notice differences between people from an early age. Research suggests that silence does not prevent bias, and that talking openly helps. How and when you raise these subjects depends on your family's own experience.

## Questions to ask each other

- What did we learn about these topics growing up?
- What do we want our child to understand and at what age?
- What would we say if they ask a hard question?

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General information, not medical advice. Two parents can each answer this and compare: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/explore?cat=values-character-and-family-culture&topic=values-character-and-family-culture--race-class-and-privilege